State Rep. Mandy Wright, D-Wausau, a supporter of the Common Core, was using the standards as an English teacher before her January inauguration.

Written by

Nora G. Hertel
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

As Wisconsin schools begin a new year, many are tailoring their lessons around an increasingly controversial set of voluntary math and English standards for kindergarten through grade 12.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative, which sets new and often more rigorous goals for what the nation's students should be learning at each grade level, is drawing flak from all sides, from Tea Party activists to educators.

"It's kind of a monstrosity that's spreading across the country without much input from the town boards, school boards," said Kim Simac of the Northwoods Patriots, a Tea Party ...